The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-02-23
INDICATED.

the Hotel of the Grande Nome Opinions
among the population scattered between
the Two Scheidecks widely differed in re-
gard to the manner of his disappearance,
some attributing it to a crime, others to a
simple accident
On the I'd of August, 1S-, the day of
the inquest into the details of the affair, .
troop of Grindelwald guides, bronzed and
scanned by the toll of the daily struggle,
gathered upon the Place before the village
town hall Admitted to the audience room
at last, they seated themselves with solemn
visages upon the benches provided for thu
purpose and, silent, stern and impossible,
waited for the inquiry to begin Only the
agitated movement of the hat brims, twirl-
ing like wheels between their fingers, told
OF the fierce though restrained excitement
OF these brave and gallant men.
''Ulric Tagmer!'' cried the Syndic of the
village, when assured by roll call that the
complement of the troop was complete;
''we are waiting for your deposition" and
he signed to a pale, gigantic figure, stand
ing with humble Difference in the corner by
the door.
The man addressed advanced to the table
with halting, uncertain steps.
ave started from the Hotel of the
Grande Moine," he began, "at 5 O'Clock in
the morning on Monday last, intending to
sleep that night at the rock of the Schwar
zegg, and the following day to mount to
the Peak of Terror. / didn't think that
should be- able to make the ascent, but
dared not refuse on account of my pride as
Il guide.
Moreover, NJ Schuch, the name by
which he is known to all on the mountain,
had promised ME fifty thalers for the trip,
whether we succeeded or failed. For three
hours we climbed without trouble up the
side of the Lower Glacier. NJ. Schuch was
in very cheerful humor and frequently
said to me:
why this is nothing at all, Uric; I'd
have done well without you
'''No, NJ. Schuch, l answered; mo, you
would not;' he laughed when l called his
name in this way, but said nothing more,
for the ascent was becoming painful and
we had great difficulty in breathing.
''Soon after we had passed the Zazenberg
1 noticed that NJ. Schuch had left the path
way which had cut into the side Of the leo
and was climbing the glacier some distance
ahead of me.
Don't trust yourself over there I
shouted, as I saw where he was going; "tlre
ice is rotten. Come back and walk behind
me- ="
'''I.et me alone, Uric, he answer ed let
me alone; l am going to examine that rock
of red snow
1T was then the misfortune happened"
At this point the guide, until now deliver
ing his statement with the manner of a
well conned lesson, hesitated; his voice,
which had trembled more, failed him alto
gether.
$50 ON; go on, cried the Syndic i'm
patiently; proceed with the recital"
cit was doubtless "a bridge of new Ice
upon which NJ. Schuch had stepped, f." con-
tinued Uric, conquering his emotion with
difficulty; but do not know, heard a
cracking noise, smothered cry, and then
NJ. Schuch was gone.
''Then he not attached to you,
usual, cried the Syndic; ''how could you
commit such an imprudence, you, an old and
experienced guide?'
1T was not my fault" began Uric,
abashed; las he did not wish it," AS Tag
mer made this statement a sudden excama-
ton burst from the bench of guides.
See here, you Others" cried Uric,
fercely, turning upon his comrades; ''you
know very web how such-things happen.
When l tried to put the rope around NJ.
Schuch's waist he repulsed and pushed me
away, saying, You are not going to bother
me with your stupid ways What more
could do? Is guide to be worse than a
slave?''
Renewed murrnurs and gestures of disap-
prevail protested against Tagmer's words.
Your comrades are right" interrupted
the Syndic land the impression made upon
them by your words will be shared by
every man of sense. Your own report,
granting it to be true, has already injured
your reputation as guide. But what did
you do after the accident?''
Il do not know; / cannot remem Der, ,"
stammered Tagmer, then perceiving the
hostile whisperings of the troop behind
him, and cut to the quick by the Syndic's
unfriendly looks be tried again to collect
his thoughts.
- think" said he, 81 think that ran
at once To the edge of the crevasse, and
leaning my head over it listened for q
sound from M. Schuch, but all was dark,
black and icy, and roared like water in .
mill Then i called, perhaps a thousand
times, NJ. Schuchmann, NJ. Schuchmannr
heard my voice descending and descend
ing, but nothing came back, nothingr"
How long did you remain thus?"
Il do not know" muttered Uric, de-
spairingly.
well, everybody knows that It was
two whole days before you again made your
appearance at the Grande Moline. Why
didn't you inform the authorities soonerr"
II was ashamed, ashamed to show my
face. Only think, NJ. lie Syndic, what it is
to IA guide when he has to return without
his traveller
And this time his comrades supported
more than one of them knew.
''But why was it, Tagmer," continued
the Syndic THAT day before yesterday
you were unable to point out the place
where the accident occurred, though four Of
your comrades had gone with you for the
express purpose of proving your story true,"
1t has showed since then, and couldn't
recognize the crevasse; it was impossible, NJ.
lie Syndic, among SO many exactly like II"
Then Tagmer, the gravity of your case
is very great for you are accused of having
killed the banker, of having robbed him,
and of throwing the body into some OF the
depths around you to conceal the crime,
and NJ Schuchmann was known to have
carried about him large sums of money.
Why did you arrange to go with him alone
on SO dangerous an expedition"
Tagmer was overwhelmed. The breath
came from his chest in gasps, like the pant
ing of a wounded animal